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All posts for the month November, 2009

Now that the holiday season has begun, David’s Christmas tour is in full gear, and Christmas from the Heart is steadily climbing the charts, I’m reposting my promo video. This album really needs to be on everybody’s Christmas wish list!

“I don’t know, I haven’t met him yet. 18 yr old David would ask him not to ruin the surprise. If you know the future, u won’t work as hard.”

This is a quote from David, shared in a comment by Desertrat in the previous thread, in response to a question asking him what 25 year-old David would reveal to 18-year-old David. Considering that so many die-hard fans already have it figured out for him (the next Elvis! the next MJ! the next Josh Groban!), while non-fans are just hoping he’ll be long forgotten, David tells it straight: surprise me.

And I like that: wanting to be surprised, not quite knowing what’s next because you’re busy working to get to that next destined high point, one always hopes. It’s actually an exciting thing, not to have the future as “crystal clear” as David’s Voice.

Still, it does warm my heart to hear so many who have worked closely with David on various music projects already declaring: there are bigger things to come. That is the crystal-clear predictions coming from those who have already been enchanted by The Voice.

You hear the ache in “Fields of Gold,” and you can foresee the gold spinning along his road to success. You feel the tenderness captured in “Ave Maria” or “What Child is This,” and you know many will cry him a river over which he will cross to the next big journey. Your body vibrates to the passion he unleashes in “Riu Riu Chiu,” and you know that in years to come, many will lay down their palms (and undergarments) to decorate his path.

18-year-old David may want to be surprised at what 25-year-old David has in store, but The Voice has revealed the handwriting on the wall. If you listen carefully, you will hear sweet whisperings of success, the kind that only dedicated excellence and sheer force of talent can bring. Can’t wait!

That was the conclusion made by one of my Thanksgiving dinner guests during a conversation we had about the Adam Lambert AMA controversy. Not surprising, since I’m one of the few people who will admit to religiously watching American Idol, and my friends tolerate my ODD as some kind of benign chocolate addiction – heh.

But I must admit that I was surprised that one of my guests saw the problem as less an artistic issue and more a “handlers” issue. The full comment was as follows:

“The problem is not Adam Lambert but that godforsaken enterprise that is American Idol! I mean, who else had the means, the clout, and the irresponsibility to put out an untried and untested performer to close out an established awards show? Just so they can promote their brand? But no one wants to talk about that!”

My other guests concurred. They don’t just not watch the show, they loathe American Idol, even though I’m always trying to convince them that there is genuine talent that emerges from the show – not just our David but Melinda Doolittle, Jennifer Hudson, Ruben Studdard, Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Fantasia, Daughtry, Jordin Sparks, and a host of others. But the talent isn’t what bothers them; it’s that these contestants are seen as not having “paid their dues,” and so, there was an overall rejection that any of these artists are worthy of their “hype.”

Obviously, their view of Adam Lambert is that he’s “derivative.” Another guest was appalled, not by the gay kiss or the simulated BJ but by how he completely ripped off Madonna – “down to the same damn mirror on stage! And I’m sorry, but who the hell is Adam Lambert to think he even measures up to a legend like Madonna, or even a Britney, to be complaining about ‘double standards’!”

Ouch.

With such anti-Idol sentiments expressed, I’m rather relieved that David isn’t fully embraced by the 19 Machine, given there is this perception out there. If the distance increases between him and the show, then the negative backlash against the show won’t necessarily affect him, not to mention his talent will stand the test of time. David is young enough to recover from the Idol stigma and will be able to flourish even more so once it’s off the air. Still, I do think it’s unfortunate that, rather than be known as a legitimate discoverer of rising stars, they are now only known for hyping up “untried” talent, shoving said talent down audiences’ throats, and bullying the music scene with a preponderance of Idol contestants (the AMA featured a total of five out of the roster of performers and presenters) – not all of whom are respected, simply because they are seen first as reality-TV personalities and second as music artists (if even that). I mean, on the Kaleidoscope show, David was still being introduced as an Idol alum (but then, the show was aired on FOX, so I’m going to let that slide).

What I took away from this conversation was an aspect of the Glambert controversy not often discussed, which does reflect a mix of homophobia and general outrage at what is often perceived to be “too much sex” in the current pop music scene, but one that is combined with American Idol fatigue. After all the build-up of AL’s “shocking” debut, only for people to be really “shocked,” just goes to show that the American Idol machine will do anything it can to pimp out their artists so it can remain in the public conscious. Meanwhile, its continued focus on sales, cheap publicity, cheap gimmicks on the show, high ratings, and yet another season of hype, hype, hype will ensure that the show will go on – whether or not we want it it to.

In all this hoopla, I’m just grateful that David came off the show with his unassuming humility, integrity, and incredulous Voice still in tact.

Update: Changed most of SnarkyMawg’s vids with videos from YouCanCallMe Tina (up close and personal! Thanks, Dorman for the tip!).

I’m featuring only songs David has performed live for the first time (so we can feast on his new “sound”) and presenting in order of the set list.

The Riddle (channeling his inner Piano Man!):

Fields of Gold (tears! So beautiful!):

Prayer of the Children (OMG!!!)

Melodies of Christmas

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (with Mama Lupe – how sweet! Did she choke up at the end? She’s so proud! Who wouldn’t be? Loved her ad libs!):

Ave Maria (angelic!):

Pat-a-Pan (known from now on as the “Pad Thai a Pan” song! haha!):

What Child Is This (slay me now!):

The First Noel:

Riu Riu Chiu (Or is it “Riu Riu Chewbacca”? Man, this song has an awesome groove and sounds amazing live!):

Silent Night:

O Holy Night (the Encore! GAH!! That close-up on his face, he’s just FEELING this song! THUD!):

This first of his shows makes me wish Disney would get a clue and actually televise his Ann Arbor concert. Seriously, people out there need to hear and see this wondrous rising star. If they couldn’t sell out that particular concert, then perhaps it’s time they realize they need to whet people’s appetites beyond the Idol and Arch Angel bubble and broadcast The Voice in a wider venue. What a Christmas gift that would be to the world! Methinks.

…As his voice rang through the room, accompanied by only a keyboardist–and, at one point, a cappella – dozens of faces lit up with wonder. A singer was giving away music, and a news organization was hosting a concert… The Forbes building has been quite an eventful place of late. Had you walked into the lobby yesterday afternoon, for instance, you might have […]